Drill press

ABSTRACT

A drill press which comprises a stand with an upright and a movable drill controllable by a handle including a switch which allows the drill to be run at variable speeds as well as to be reversed and in which the stand is provided with a pair of arcuate slots aligned with the drill so that the drill will not hit into the drill stand and provided with adjustable limits for controlling the upper and lower limits of the drill movement as well as adjusting means for moving the entire drill assembly relative to the upright of the stand.

United States Patent [1 1 Levine Sept. 24, 1974 DRILL PRESS [76] Inventor: Aaron J. Levine, 3147 North Cambridge Ave., Chicago, 111. 60657 [22] Filed: May 29, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 364,933

[52] US. Cl 408/14, 408/16, 408/88,

408/135, 408/136, 408/236, 200/157 [51] Int. Cl... B23b 39/12, B23b 47/00, B23b 49/00 [58] Field of Search 408/14, 16, 88, 89, 90, 408/91, 135, 136, 87, 234, 235, 236; 200/157 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,201,050 10/1916 Huff 408/136 2,356,438 8/1944 Wilson 408/16 2,820,377 I/l958 Buck 408/712 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 408/712 Primary Examiner-Francis S. Husar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson 57 ABSTRACT A drill press which comprises a stand with an upright and a movable drill controllable by a handle including a switch which allows the drill to be run at variable speeds as well as to be reversed and in which the stand is provided with a pair of arcuate slots aligned with the drill so that the drill will not hit into the drill stand and provided with adjustable limits for controlling the upper and lower limits of the drill movement as well as adjusting means for moving the entire drill assembly relative to the upright of the stand.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures DRILL PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates in general to drill presses and in particular to a novel small drill press.

2. Description of the Prior Art Drill presses of the prior art have normally been expensive and bulky structures which are normally beyond the means of the small home workshop owner due to the size and weight of the devices. Such prior art drill presses have been provided with metal bases against which the drill can be accidentally pressed resulting in the drill s breaking or becoming dull.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an inexpensive drill press comprising a metal stand formed with arcuate slots aligned with the drill and wherein the stand has an upright upon which the drill is movably mounted and controllable by a pivoted handle which further includes a speed control switch that allows the speed and direction of the drill to be controlled. Means for illuminating the workpiece are provided and limit stop means are provided so as to limit the downward motion and upper motion of the drill so as to control vertical motion relative to the workpiece.

Other objects, features and advantages of the inven tion will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure, and in which:

ON THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the drill press of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the drill press;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the stop mechanism of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a drill press 10 of this invention which includes a stand member 11 which has feet 13 and a base plate 14. Adjacent one side of the stand a cylindrical upright support 12 is mounted. In the base 14 are formed a plurality of openings with a circular opening 16 under the normal position of the drill and with a pair of arcuate slots 19 and 22 formed on either side of the opening 16 and having radii such that the drill bit 26 of the drill will pass through the slots 19 and 22 rather than engaging the base 14 so as to break or dull the drill. A couple of slots 17 and 21 extend in the transverse direction relative to slots 19 and 22. All of the slots 17,19,21 and 22 are formed with enlarged openings 18 at their ends remote from the opening 16.

A motor support assembly 27 is slidably mounted on the upright 12 and is formed with semi-circular mating portions 101 and 102 which engage the upright 12.

Locking means comprising bolts and screws 46 extend between the two halves of the support unit 27 such that when the locking means 46 are tightened the support member 27 will be locked to the upright 12 at a preset position.

A motor and drill unit 23 is mounted for vertical movement relative to the support housing 27 and carries an electrical drive motor, not shown therein. The motor is geared to a drill chuck 24 which receives a drill bit 26 therein.

The portion of the housing 27 between the upright 12 and the motor and drill unit 23 is designated by numeral 28 and is hollow. A handle drive shaft 37 is rotatably supported in the portion 28 of the support unit 27 as shown in FIGS. 1,2,3,4 and 5. A coupling member 36 is connected to the outer end of the shaft 37 and a pivot arm 29 extends at right angles to the shaft 37 from the hub 36. A switch and handle unit comprises the housing 31. The fixed finger rest 32 and the switch portion 33 are connected to the end of pivot arm 29 as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. A lock pin 34 is also mounted in the housing 31 so as to lock the variable speed button 33 in any desired position.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the motor housing unit 23 is formed with a dovetail member 48 which is received in a guide slot of support member 27 so as to allow the motor unit 23 to move up and down relative to the upright 12. A rack 51 is mounted on the rear of the dovetail member 48 and mates with a drive gear 52 carried on shaft 37. A coil spring 53 is attached to the shaft 37 and to a lock pin 54 so as to bias the motor and drill housing unit 23 in the up position to counterbalance the weight of the motor and drill unit and to return it to the up position when the handle 32 is released.

A power supply cord 92 passes through an opening surrounded by a grommet 107 in the upper end of member 27 and is connected to a suitable power supply, as for example, volt AC. A power line 93 extends from the power line 92 through an opening 110 of the housing 23 and is connected to the motor and to illumination light 91 mounted on the bottom portion of the motor unit 23 so as to illuminate the workpiece. It is to be realized, of course, that the power line 93 within the housing 23 has slack so that as the housing 23 moves relative to the support 27, it has adequate slack to allow such movement.

The speed of the motor is controlled by a power line 94 which passes through an opening 1 1 1 formed in hub 112 non-rotatably on shaft 37. The shaft 37 is hollow from the hub 112 to the handle 31 and the electrical conductor 94 extends through the hub 112, the shaft the locking means 34. Locking means 34 may, of course, be a mechanical lock for the switch contact 33.

The motor and drill housing 23 includes an upper and lower limit member 76 which is formed with a slot 78. A bracket 82 is attached to the member 27 adjacent the member 76 and carries an indicia pointer 81. An adjustable locking pin 84 extends through the slot 78 of the member 76 below the bracket 82 and the indicia 81 and engages the bracket 82 to limit the upper motion of the motor housing 23 relative to the member 27.

A downward motion limiting pin ismounted in the slot 78 of the member 76 above the bracket 82 and can be adjusted vertically relative to the slot 78 with a cam lever arm 74 which is pivotally connected to one end of a pin shaft 71 which extends through the slot 78 and carries washers 72 and 73 on opposite sides of the slot 78. Thus by moving the cam arm 74 to the unlocked position, the lock pin 71 may be moved vertically in the slot to limit the downward motion of the motor housing 23 as desired.

In operation, the support unit 27 is moved relative to the base 14 to the desired vertical position by loosening the locking nuts 46 and sliding the support unit 27 to the desired position. Then the limit means 71 and 84 are adjusted relative to the bracket 82 and the indicia 81 to the desired position so as to limit the upper and lower motion of the motor unit 23. The power plug 116 of the power cable 92 is, of course, connected to a suitable power source. The workpiece is placed beneath the drill bit 26 and the switch plate 33 is closed by a gripping of the operators hand relative to the handle 32 so as to control the speed as a function of the amount the switch 33 is depressed. Then the shaft 37 is rotated by the handle 32 driving the drill bit 26 and the motor unit 23 downwardly relative to the support member 27 through the action of the gear 52 and the rack 51 causing the dovetail 48 of the motor unit 23 to slide in the groove 105 of the housing 27. The light 91 illuminates the workpiece and is supplied power from the cable 92. After the workpiece has been drilled by the drill 26, the handle 32 may be released to allow the switch 33 to return to the off position and the motor housing 23 will return to the up position due to the action of the spring 53. The lock button 34 may be utilized to lock the motor speed control switch 33 in any desired position and can be released by depressing it a second time. A reversing switch 121 may also be provided on the handle 31 to cause the drill to reverse as for example, when backing it out of certain workpieces or when used for tapping and backing the tap from the threaded opening.

it is seen that this invention provides a new and novel drill which can be controlled in speed and direction and which can be moved vertically and angularly relative to the support 12. Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is not to be so limited as changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drill press comprising, a stand with an upright support, a motor support 'member adjustably mounted on said upright support, a motor and drill housing unit mounted for vertical motion relative to said motor support member, a pivot drive arm rotatably attached to said motor support member, a finger control switch mounted at the end of said pivot drive arm away from said motor support member to control the speed of said motor, said stand formed with arcuate shaped slots aligned with said drill as the motor support member is rotated to different positions relative to said upright support.

2. A drill press comprising, a stand with an upright support, a motor support member adjustably mounted on said upright support, a motor and drill housing unit mounted for vertical motion relative to said motor support member, a pivot drive arm rotatably attached to said motor support member, a finger control switch mounted at the end of said pivot drive arm away from said motor support member to control the speed of said motor, a rack mounted on said motor and drill housing, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said motor support member and connected to said pivot drive arm, a drive gear mounted on said drive shaft and engageable with said rack, spring biasing means connected to said drive shaft to bias said motor and drill housing in the upward direction, upper and lower limit means for limiting the vertical motion of said motor and drill housing unit relative to said motor support member, said upper and lower limit means comprises a member with a vertical slot attached to said motor and drill housing, a bracket attached to said motor support member adjacent said member with a slot, and a pair of limit members adjustably mounted in said slot and engageable with said bracket to limit the motion of said motor and drill unit.

3. A drill press according to claim 2 wherein one of said limit members is formed with a locking pin and a cam arm to lock said pin in said slot.

4. A drill press according to claim 2 including a light mounted on said motor and drill housing to illuminate a workpiece.

5. A drill press according to claim 2 wherein said finger control switch comprises a movable finger member and a handle member.

6. A drill press according to claim 5 including a locking means for locking said finger control switch. 

1. A drill press comprising, a stand with an upright support, a motor support member adjustably mounted on said upright support, a motor and drill housing unit mounted for vertical motion relative to said motor support member, a pivot drive arm rotatably attached to said motor support member, a finger control switch mounted at the end of said pivot drive arm away from said motor support member to control the speed of said motor, said stand formed with arcuate shaped slots aligned with said drill as the motor support member is rotated to different positions relative to said upright support.
 2. A drill press comprising, a stand with an upright support, a motor support member adjustably mounted on said upright support, a motor and drill housing unit mounted for vertical motion relative to said motor support member, a pivot drive arm rotatably attached to said motor support member, a finger control switch mounted at the end of said pivot drive arm away from said motor support member to control the speed of said motor, a rack mounted on said motor and drill housing, a drive shaft rotatably supported by said motor support member and connected to said pivot drive arm, a drive gear mounted on said drive shaft and engageable with said rack, spring biasing means connected to said drive shaft to bias said motor and drill housing in the upward direction, upper and lower limit means for limiting the vertical motion of said motor and drill housing unit relative to said motor support member, said upper and lower limit means comprises a member with a vertical slot attached to said motor and drill housing, a bracket attached to said motor support member adjacent said member with a slot, and a pair of limit members adjustably mounted in said slot and engageable with said bracket to limit the motion of said motor and drill unit.
 3. A drill press according to claim 2 wherein one of said limit members is formed with a locking pin and a cam arm to lock said pin in said slot.
 4. A drill press according to claim 2 including a ligHt mounted on said motor and drill housing to illuminate a workpiece.
 5. A drill press according to claim 2 wherein said finger control switch comprises a movable finger member and a handle member.
 6. A drill press according to claim 5 including a locking means for locking said finger control switch. 